Toy or model vehicles

ABSTRACT

The running gear of a toy vehicle is carried by a frame, or subbase, of resiliently flexible material. The frame makes snapfitting engagement with the underside of the vehicle, and is detachable with the assistance of a special purpose key, to facilitate removal of the running gear for repairs or replacement.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Howard W. Fairbairn Dallington, England [2]] App]. No. 4,150 -[22] Filed Jan. 19, 1970 [45] Patented Sept. 7, 1971 [7 3] Assignee The Mettoy Company Limited [32] Priority Jan. 21, 1969 [3 3] Great Britain 3396/69 [54] TOY OR MODEL VEHICLES 2 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 46/223, [51] Int. Cl A63h 17/26 [50] Field of Search 46/22'1,

[56] 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,597,588 5/1952 Manoil 46/221 3,063,194 11/1962 Berguerand.... 46/221 X 3,462,878 8/l969 Perryman et al 46/221 X Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-D. L. Weinhold Attorney-Holcombe, Wetherill and Brisebois ABSTRACT: The running gear of a toy vehicle is carried by a frame, or subbase, of resiliently flexible material. The frame makes snap-fitting engagement with the underside of the vehicle, and is detachable with the assistance of a special purpose key, to facilitate removal of the running gear for repairs or replacement.

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ATTORNEY TOY OR MODEL VEHICLES or by damage to the wheels or axles. The invention is concerned with providing a solution to this problem and at the same time enhancing the play value of such toy cars.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a toy vehicle having free-running wheels, carried by a pair of axles,

characterized in that the said axles are mounted in a subbase which in turn is releasably mounted on the underside of the vehicle body, being readily detachable from the remainder of the vehicle. 1

The invention therefore makes it possible to restore the original free-running properties of a toy car at low cost by replacing the existing running gear with a new one, and in a way which is interesting for the user.

In the preferred construction described below this detachable subbase is of resiliently flexible construction and affords a spring suspension for the vehicle with each wheel independently sprung.

Other features of the invention will sufficiently appear from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood however, that this particular embodiment of the invention is described and illustrated by way ofexample only and that the invention is not limited to the use of the particular materials mentioned, nor to the details of construction described and illustrated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section throughthe assembled vehicle;

FIG. 2 is an underside plan of certain parts only of the vehicle;

FIG. 3is a partial plan view and FIG. 4 is a side view of one component of the vehicle;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section through the parts shown'in FIG. 2, when in a different condition of adjustment;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are fragment or cross sectional views taken respectively on the lines AA and BB of FIG. 2, FIG. 7 also showing .part of a tool provided for use in dismantling and reassembly;

FIG. 8 shows the same tool in use to effect another dismantling operation;

FIG. 9 shows the same tool and some parts of the vehicle preparatory to the effecting of an assembly operation; and

FIG. 10 shows the same parts as FIG. 9 after the completion of the assembly operation.

Referring to the drawings, the model car illustrated comprises a body 1 and a baseplate or chassis 5, the body including two depending pillars 11, whose lower ends are passed through holes 51 in the chassis and are subsequently rivetted over to secure the parts together. Trapped between the body and the chassis are a seat member 3, a window 4 of transparent plastics material and thepivots 21 of a hingedcanopy 2. The body, chassis and canopy are metal die castings. The seat member is constituted by a moulding of flexible plastics material (shown separately in FIGS. 3 and 4), which is folded upon imelf, with interlocking of its parts, before assembly.

Beneath the chassis 5 there extends a subbase 6, which is made of nylon, so that it is resiliently flexible. The central or medial portion 61 of the subbase is narrow and lies in a longitudinally extending grove 52 (FIGS. 1 and 7)formed in the underside of the chassis. At each end the subbase has a wider portion 62 which underlies and extends laterally beyond a narrow portion of the chassis. Each end portion 62 of the subbase includes a pair of lugs 63, which project forwardly above the chassis 5, thus retaining the subbase to the chassis, rearward sliding movement of the subbase (which would release the latter from the chassis) being normally prevented by the engagement of a peg 53 on the chassis in a hole provided in the subbase. Each end portion 62 of the subbase rests at two laterally spaced points upon an axle rod 71, which is retained to the subbase by a pair of lugs 64 formed on the subbase, a road wheel 72 being mounted on each end of each axle rod. The end portions 62 of the subbase are normally spaced downwardly from the underside of the chassis (as shown in FIG. 1) so that they can flex upwardly to the extent shown in FIG. 5. Such flexing movement can take place on both sides of the vehicle simultaneously, or on either side alone, so that the resiliently flexible subbase 6 provides an independent spring suspension at all four wheels of the vehicle.

Each of the wheels 72 is rotatable on its axle rod 71 and is retained thereon by a ball head 73 formed on the end of the rod. Bearing engagement between the wheel and the rod is confined to two narrow bearing areas spaced widely apart, giving a secure bearing with low frictional resistance. Friction is further reduced by coating the rod, including the ball ends, with polytetrafluroethylene. While the wheels are shown as being made in two parts, a one piece wheel which similarly provides two widely spaced bearing areas with an undercut chamber between them may be substituted. The wheel is also preferably of, or coated with low friction material such as polytetrafluroethylene.

To facilitate removal of the subbase 6 (together with the axle rods and wheels) from the remainder of the vehicle, we provide a special purpose tool or key 8 (see particularly FIGS. 8 and 9). Each end of this tool is shaped to provide a spigot 81 which can be passed through a slot 65 in the subbase and engaged'in a hole 54 in the chassis. Projecting wings 82, which are formed on the tool adjacent the spigot, also pass through the slot 65 and engage in the longitudinal extending groove 52 of the chassis, as indicated in phantom in FIG. 1. The walls of the groove 52'being inclined as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, rota tion of the tool 8 about the axis afforded by spigot 81 causes the wings 82 to exert a camming action which bows downwardly the central portion 61 of the subbase 6, as shown in FIG. 7, moving it clear of the location peg 53. This downward movement of the subbase brings a peg 66 on the subbase into the path of movement of a portion 83 of the tool and on continued rotation of the tool, portion 83 engages peg 66 andmoves subbase 6-rearwardly, thus moving lugs 63 clear of chassis 5 and releasing the subbase. Reassembly is easily effected without the use of tools.

Each of the wheel assemblies7, comprising an axle rod 71 and a pair of wheels 72, can readily be removed from the subbase 5 by the use of the same tool 8, one of the projections 84 provided on the tool being employed in the manner indicated in FIG. 8. The same tool can be used to facilitate'the fitting of a serviced or replacement wheel assembly to the subbase, this operation being illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The wheel as sembly is positioned on the tool as shown in FIG. 8, the-wheels being located by the portions 85 of the tool, and the subbase 5 is then located by the portions 86 of the tool (see FIG. 9) and pressed downwardly, so that the chamfered undersurface of the lugs 64 engage the axle rod 71 and are sprung past it.

It will be noted that removal of the subbase and running gear is effected without disturbing the chassis 5 and therefore without disturbing or freeing any of the internal features such as the moulding 3 or releasing movable parts of the body such as the hinged canopy 2.

As stated above, the invention is not limited to the particular construction described and illustrated, this being intended by way of example only.

I claim:

1. A toy vehicle comprising a vehicle body including a chassis plate, a pair of axles, a pair of free-running wheels rotatably mounted on each said axle, a subbase carrying said axles which is of resiliently flexible construction and affords a spring suspension for said axles, said subbase being adapted for snapplate.

2; A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said key, is engageable between said medial portion of said subbase and the lower surface of said chassis plate to cause said subbase to bow downwardly and thereby disengage said lug means from said chassis plate. 

1. A toy vehicle comprising a vehicle body including a chassis plate, a pair of axles, a pair of free-running wheels rotatably mounted on each said axle, a subbase carrying said axles which is of resiliently flexible construction and affords a spring suspension for said axles, said subbase being adapted for snapfitting engagement with the underside of said vehicle body, and a special purpose key for releasing said subbase from said body, said subbase having a medial portion located against and supported by the underside of said chassis plate and end portions which carry said axles and are free to flex upwardly relative to said chassis plate, each of said end portions being provided with lug means which project above the upper surface of the chassis plate to fasten said subbase to said chassis plate.
 2. A toy vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said key, is engageable between said medial portion of said subbase and the lower surface of said chassis plate to cause said subbase to bow downwardly and thereby disengage said lug means from said chassis plate. 